L.A.'s NBA All-Stars value chemistry

Complicating matters, Howard also has to be on the same page with Steve Nash in addition to Bryant.

"It's tough," Howard said. "All of us have been the primary guys on our teams since we've been in the NBA. We have to really learn how to play together, share, and kind of sacrifice a part of our game to help the team.

"A lot of that takes time."

Howard knows that the process can seem like it's moving slow at times because he went through it in Orlando with guard Jameer Nelson before the two locked in with one another.

"That took time. We had to develop that," Howard said. "We didn't have that right away. Over the years, it got better. As we got older and wiser, it started to work for us.

"When we first got together, the pick and roll didn't work. None of that stuff worked. As we grew, we got better at it."

The Lakers, in serious danger of missing the playoffs for just the third time in the past 34 years, know that they need to figure things out quickly.

"Hit the reset button," Bryant said of his All-Star plans. "And hopefully there's an 'Easy Button' like in the (Staples) commercials."

But Howard knows there isn't a button that accelerates the process of clicking with Bryant, Nash and the rest of his teammates.

There's no question the Lakers haven't meshed the way they expected to this season.

"Unfortunately, we've paid the cost for it by losing some games," Howard said. "We've got to figure out a way to do it and do it fast."

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